Reducing Falls During Residential
Construction: Installing Tile Roofs

When workers install tile roofs they are at risk of falling. Using personal fall arrest
systems (PFAS) is the most common way to control falls during residential
construction. These systems are not the only way to protect a worker and there
are other options. This fact sheet describes various steps that roofing contractors
can take before and during roofing jobs to keep workers from falling.

Workers Can Fall While Tiling Roofs

Roofers installing tiles risk permanent injury or
death from falls. Even experienced roofers are
exposed to unpredictable fall hazards caused by
uneven sheathing, sudden gusts of wind, loose
roofing materials, and surfaces that become slick
when wet. Taking appropriate fall protection
measures can reduce these risks and save lives.
The employer shall provide a training program
for each worker who might be exposed to fall
hazards. The program shall enable each worker
to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train
each worker in the procedures to be followed
in order to minimize these hazards. For fall
protection training requirements, refer to 29 CFR
1926.503.

Tiling Roofs Safely – Important Steps

Before beginning the job, focus on identifying fall
protection needs. Survey the roof to determine if
there are pre-installed anchorages available that
can be used. If not, then begin planning immediately
to identify those systems needed to protect
workers from falls and have them available before
the workers report to the job.

Communicating Your Needs

The contractor that is building and sheathing the
roof structure will need fall protection equipment
for workers performing these jobs. At a preconstruction
meeting, or at the first meeting on
the work site, ask the building contractor to leave
roof anchors or other fall protection equipment in
place after sheathing is completed.

Using the Right Equipment

Roofers must use fall protection equipment that
meets OSHA requirements whenever they work
6 feet or more above a lower level. States with
OSHA-approved State Plans may have additional requirements beyond OSHA requirements.
Depending on the tasks involved, where the work
is taking place, and other circumstances specific
to tile roofing, contractors may be able to protect
their workers using the following equipment:

Scaffolds

Aerial lifts

Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

Guardrails

Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)

A PFAS is designed to safely stop a fall before
the worker strikes a lower level. It includes three
major components:

An anchorage to which the other components
of the PFAS are rigged.

A full body harness worn by the worker.

A connector, such as a lanyard or lifeline, linking
the harness to the anchorage. A rip-stitch
lanyard, or deceleration device, is typically a
part of the system.

For more information on the requirements for a
PFAS, refer to 29 CFR 1926.502(d).

Remember that for fall arrest systems, workers
must use full-body harnesses. Body belts can
cause serious injury during a fall and so OSHA
prohibits their use as part of fall arrest systems.

Preparing the Work Site

Safeguarding against hazards is as important
to preventing fatal falls as having good fall
protection equipment. When work begins on a
roof, employers must prepare the site by
protecting workers from situations that could
cause them to fall.

Wet or windy weather

Roofing should only be performed when
weather permits. Wind and rain put workers at
a greater risk for falling. In damp or windy
weather, put work on hold until conditions
improve.

Skylights and openings: Every year, workers die
from falling through openings and weak surfaces
on roofs. Employers must protect employees
working around skylights and roof openings with
covers, PFAS or guardrails.

Accessing the roof: Safe roof access is as important
as having effective fall protection while on
the roof. Employers must provide safe access and
make sure that workers know how to get up and
down from a roof in a way that minimizes the risk
of falling. Extension ladders must extend at least
three (3) feet above the roof level to ensure safe
access to the roof. For other requirements on the
safe use of ladders, refer to 29 CFR 1926 Subpart
X – Stairways and Ladders.

Stage your materials: Preventing falls is as much
about reducing the risks around workers as it is
about having the right fall protection equipment.
Be sure to put all working materials in safe spots. Loose tiles and hand-held equipment create tripping
hazards on the roof surface. Workers can fall
after tripping or slipping on something they did
not see. While walking on the roof and carrying
materials, the worker should keep the materials
on the down-sloped edge to prevent the materials
from falling into the worker if the materials are
dropped.

Performing Edgework

When installing the first rows of tile near the roof
edge, workers have several fall protection options.
In addition to a PFAS, scaffolds and aerial lifts can
provide safe access to the edge.

Scaffolds: When properly constructed and used,
external scaffolds can provide suitable protection
for roof repairs along the edge of the roof. Pumpjack
scaffolds offer a secure platform from which
to work and can be raised and lowered for specific
tasks, such as working from underneath the
eaves. Guardrails along the scaffold will provide
fall protection. For other requirements for scaffolds,
refer to 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L – Scaffolds.

Aerial lifts: A portable boom lift can allow roofers
easy access to the leading edge of the roof. The
adjustable angle is useful for working on roofs of
all grades. It offers an easy place for workers to tie
off their lifelines and to work from within the basket.
Care must be taken when loading material.
Do not overload the lift. For other requirements
for lift, refer to 29 CFR 1926.453 – Aerial Lifts.

Anchorage

When working in an area where a scaffold or
aerial lift is not practical, workers can use a PFAS
with a secure anchor. OSHA requires that anchors
for a PFAS are able to hold at least 5,000 pounds
of weight per person, or maintain a safety factor
of at least two (twice the impact load) under the
supervision of a qualified person [29 CFR
1926.502(d)(15)]. Anchors must not be attached to
sheathing alone, because it may not be strong
enough to hold the sudden weight of a falling
worker. Anchors should be fixed to a strong structural
feature (like a sheathed truss). Always follow
the manufacturer’s instructions or consult a qualified
person when installing anchors. When choosing
an anchor to use for fall protection, employers
have a number of options. For example:

Peak anchor: At the top of the roof, peak
anchors are typically solid, nonmoving pieces
secured by the anchor to the trusses underneath.

Permanent D-rings: Inexpensive D-ring anchors
are attached to the truss frame; they are often
removed after the job is done, although they
can be left permanently on the roof.

Install an anchor above the area being built:

Choose an anchor that is appropriate for the tile
type and anchor location. Depending on the roof design, the best location might be at the peak of
the roof, directly over a truss.

Leave anchors in place: Where practical, consider
leaving anchors in place. It will make the current
job simpler and reduce the burden for roofers in
the future. Roofing is not always the last step in
the construction process. Skylight windows and
solar panels might be installed later during
construction. Workers installing those units will
also need fall protection anchors.

Written Fall Protection Plans

If the employer does not use ladders, scaffolds,
or aerial lifts, and can demonstrate that it is not
feasible or would create a greater hazard to use
conventional fall protection equipment (guardrails,
safety nets, or PFAS) when working at heights of
6 feet or greater, the employer must develop a
written site-specific fall protection plan in accord
with 29 CFR 1926.502(k). The plan must be
prepared by a qualified person as defined by 29
CFR 1926.32(m). This person could be the owner,
the supervisor, or a worker who has extensive
knowledge, training and experience with fall protection
and is able to solve problems relating to
fall protection. States with OSHA-approved State
Plans may have additional requirements for
written fall protection plans.

The site-specific fall protection plan must
document at each location why the use of
conventional fall protection equipment is not
feasible or will create a greater hazard. The plan
must also describe the alternative methods that
the employer will use so that workers are
protected from falls. Workers and their
supervisors must be trained on the proper use
of those other fall protection methods.

Conventional fall protection equipment can reduce
or eliminate the chances of a fatal fall. Written sitespecific
fall protection plans ensure that protection
continues, even when conventional fall protection
methods are determined to not be feasible.

OSHA Compliance Guidance:

State Plan Guidance:States with OSHA-approved
State Plans may have additional requirements for
Residential Roofing within State Plans. For more
information on these requirements, please visit:
www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/statestandards.html.

Help for Employers: OSHA's On-site Consultation
Program offers free and confidential advice to
small and medium-sized businesses in all states
across the country, with priority given to highhazard
worksites. On-site Consultation services
are separate from enforcement and do not result
in penalties or citations. Consultants from state
agencies or universities work with employers to
identify workplace hazards, provide advice on
compliance with OSHA standards and assist in
establishing injury and illness prevention
programs. To locate the OSHA Consultation
Program nearest you, call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)
or visit www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/consult.html.

NIOSH Prevention Through Design
Program

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

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